Pointless polls and inane discussion.

[todd10k]

Hey, my first thread. *cough*

Simply put, The Escapist is a gaming and gaming culture orientated website, complete with all the frills, bells and whistles. This is something we can all agree on. So i find myself wondering why there is an off-topic subforum. When i come to the front page of the escapist, i always have a look at "The most recent threads" banner. It is completly and without fail filled to the brim with "Can you do handstands?" "Riddles" "lol" and other such nuggets of wisdom.

I come here to discuss games, not mindless banter with clearly underage forum dwellers. if i want to discuss handstands, i will go to a gymnastic's forum. if i want to read riddles, i will visit a site dedicated to riddles and riddle related paraphernalia. IF i want to discuss "lol"...No, cant finish that sentence with a straight face, but you get the point. This site is being dragged down by this, and it would'nt be so bad if it were not on the front page.

I propose removing the off topic discussion area from "The most recent posts" Banner on the homepage, or better yet, the entire section.

and yes, i see the irony posting in the section you wanna see go yada yada

 

[seamusotorain]

So...can you do a handstand?

The internet is built on inane discussion.

 

[Cheesebob]

This is Off Topic discussion, anything tasteful can go here

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

There has to be an "Off Topic" forum because there is only so many times you can discuss "which is your favorite x" or "have you seen the new blah game?", we need somewhere else to talk about other stuff, which allows us to spread other opinions and get to know the rest of the community better, something which we might not be able to do in the limits of "Gaming Discussion". It's nice to discuss other stuff or just joke about, Off Topic allows us to do this, to relax more among our community, possibly sharing stuff that you can't in a gaming thread.

 

[Dale Cooper]

Someone no like fun?

 

[todd10k]

Im not about censorship, or against fun, but is the escapist better for having this section. In my opinion, no. This type of discussion could be better served somewhere else. if you want to ask someone "whats your favourite X?", why here?

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

Im not about censorship, or against fun, but is the escapist better for having this section. In my opinion, no. This type of discussion could be better served somewhere else. if you want to ask someone "whats your favourite X?", why here?

It brings in more members, allows us to move onto other subjects, which stops us getting bored and that type of discussion is used here because we act in a certain way when talking about things, mixing having fun and acting serious which makes some pretty enjoyable discussion. Without it a lot of people wouldn't post here, there being no room outside repetitive game threads, this way we can talk to people all around the world about various things, or just share a laugh with them.

 

[EchetusXe]

Welcome to the internet.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Im not about censorship, or against fun, but is the escapist better for having this section. In my opinion, no. This type of discussion could be better served somewhere else. if you want to ask someone "whats your favourite X?", why here?

It brings in more members, allows us to move onto other subjects, which stops us getting bored and that type of discussion is used here because we act in a certain way when talking about things, mixing having fun and acting serious which makes some pretty enjoyable discussion. Without it a lot of people wouldn't post here, there being no room outside repetitive game threads, this way we can talk to people all around the world about various things, or just share a laugh with them.

Not to mention tolerable spelling and grammar.

 

[Lazy Lemon]

Handstands are easy! Making your way to hospital with a broken neck afterwards is the tricky part.

Gaming discussion is mostly the same three threads repeated over and over again.

 

[todd10k]

Original point of post: remove off topic from the "recent posts". Ye or nay?

 

[gh0ti]

Original point of post: remove off topic from the "recent posts". Ye or nay?

I would have to say nay. Look, internet sites like these thrive or fail based on their ability to foster a cohesive community. Everyone here loves video games, but they also love inane chatter (even the ones constantly complaining about repeat threads and flame wars). Chances are that every discussion going on in the gaming forums could be found in similar form on other sites; it is the off topic posts that give the Escapist much of its character.

 

[Futurehead]

The off topic forum here is really good and shouldn't be removed even though I agree that off topic posts shouldn't appear on the front page of a gaming website.